The corridors had grown quiet by the time Adrian and Aurelian reached the eastern gallery.
Outside, snow drifted lazily through the darkness, illuminated by the courtyard lanterns below. The castle's usual bustle had faded, leaving only the occasional footsteps of passing guards and the distant murmur of servants finishing their evening duties.
Adrian walked beside Aurelian at an unhurried pace, his hands resting comfortably behind his back.
"I must confess," the marquis remarked, glancing toward the windows, "I had rather underestimated the northern winter."
Aurelian laughed softly. "As did I."
"Then I imagine Bellafonte will seem quite heavenly when you eventually return."
"Oh, undoubtedly. I have never appreciated our southern weather more than I do now."
Adrian chuckled. "And yet, you seem to have grown rather fond of Vaelmont."
"I have." Aurelian smiled as they passed another window. "It is beautiful in its own way, and the people have been very welcoming."
"Even the soldiers?"
"Well, some of them required a little convincing."
That earned a genuine laugh from Adrian. "I can imagine. Northern soldiers have never been particularly famous for their hospitality."
"They have been very kind once I became acquainted with them."
"How very like you to find the best in everyone."
Aurelian smiled, somewhat embarrassed by the compliment.
Adrian continued speaking of the capital, offering a few amusing observations about the nobles who had accompanied the Crown's delegation. Aurelian listened with interest, occasionally laughing at his descriptions of particularly difficult council members.
It was pleasant to speak of ordinary things again.
Adrian possessed an easy charm, and there was something comforting about his relaxed manner when everyone else in the castle seemed perpetually occupied. By the time they reached the gallery's far end, Aurelian was feeling considerably more at ease.
Adrian stopped beside a window overlooking the enclosed garden.
"Tell me, Aurelian. How have you truly been managing?"
Aurelian blinked. "Pardon?"
"With everything that has been happening. I know you have been keeping yourself occupied, but I imagine the past few weeks have been rather different from what you expected."
"Oh, certainly." Aurelian considered the question. "I suppose it has been a little overwhelming at times. There always seems to be something happening, and Lady Sera has been terribly busy."
"I imagine so." Adrian's expression softened. "And I suspect you have seen rather less of her than you would prefer."
Aurelian gave a small, embarrassed smile. "Perhaps."
"There is no shame in admitting it. You are engaged, after all. I imagine neither of you anticipated spending quite so much time apart while residing beneath the same roof."
"No, I suppose not."
"But you have handled it admirably. Rather than lamenting Her Grace's absence, you have found ways to occupy yourself, and from what I understand, your efforts have been appreciated."
Aurelian's expression brightened. "I am glad to hear that."
"Your dedication hardly surprises me. You have always struck me as a gentleman who takes his responsibilities seriously."
"That is very kind of you."
"Not at all. Merely an observation."
The marquis turned toward the garden, his expression growing thoughtful.
"Although I wonder whether your circumstances here may soon become rather difficult."
Aurelian glanced at him. "How do you mean?"
"War, my dear Aurelian."
The word seemed unusually harsh amid the peaceful surroundings.
"The situation with Fatima has become increasingly concerning. The Crown is preparing for several unpleasant possibilities, and I fear Vaelmont will bear much of the burden should negotiations fail."
Aurelian looked out over the snow-covered garden. "Lady Sera has been preparing for that."
"Indeed, and no one is better suited to the task. But even Her Grace cannot be everywhere at once."
"I worry about how much she has been working," Aurelian admitted. "She scarcely rests anymore."
"Her responsibilities have become extraordinary." Adrian regarded him for a moment. "And that brings me to something I have been wondering. Have you considered what your position here would be if war truly begins?"
"My position?"
"Yes. Within Vaelmont."
"Well, I suppose I would continue assisting wherever I could."
"Naturally, though I meant in an official capacity."
Aurelian hesitated. "I do not believe I have one."
"No, I didn't think so." Adrian nodded thoughtfully. "You have no military commission, nor are you formally attached to Her Grace's command. Your presence here is primarily a personal matter."
Aurelian was quiet.
He had never considered his position in quite those terms. Although he had come to Vaelmont as Seraphina's fiancé, the work he had undertaken since his arrival had gradually become an important part of his days. He had begun to feel that he was finding a place for himself here, even without an official title.
"I suppose that is true," he admitted.
"And under peaceful circumstances, there is nothing particularly troublesome about that." Adrian gestured toward the courtyard below. "But a military stronghold operates rather differently during a war. Everyone has an assigned responsibility, from the officers commanding soldiers to the quartermasters maintaining their supplies."
Aurelian nodded, familiar enough with Vaelmont's preparations to understand the distinction.
"But as Her Grace's fiancé, without a formal position within that structure, you would occupy a rather unusual place."
"Would I?"
"Certainly. You would be important enough to require protection, but without the authority to direct the very people responsible for providing it."
Aurelian frowned slightly.
"I would never presume to interfere with military matters," he said. "And I would certainly follow whatever precautions the commanders considered necessary."
"Of course you would. I would expect nothing less." Adrian smiled reassuringly. "Unfortunately, even the most cooperative gentleman cannot entirely remove the difficulties his presence might create."
Aurelian's fingers curled loosely against his palm.
"I would not wish to cause unnecessary difficulties."
"I know."
The marquis was silent for a moment, as though deciding how best to explain.
"Because Her Grace loves you, Aurelian."
Aurelian's breath caught.
Adrian glanced toward the garden. "And love, unfortunately, can complicate even the most straightforward responsibilities."
Aurelian felt his cheeks warm, though the seriousness of Adrian's expression prevented him from finding much comfort in the observation.
"Consider what would happen if Vaelmont came under attack," Adrian continued. "Her Grace would be responsible for directing its defenses. Every order she gave would affect the lives of her soldiers. Now imagine that in the midst of such an attack, she received word that you were in danger."
Aurelian grew still.
"That would certainly be unfortunate, but I would never expect her to neglect her duties for me."
"Would Her Grace see it quite so simply?"
Aurelian opened his mouth, then hesitated.
The marquis allowed the question to settle.
"Perhaps she would send soldiers to retrieve you. Perhaps she would leave her position to ensure your safety herself, or perhaps she would merely hesitate before issuing an order."
His voice remained quiet.
"On a battlefield, Aurelian, even a moment's hesitation can be fatal."
Aurelian looked away.
He knew Seraphina was protective of him. She had never attempted to conceal that, particularly after the dangers they had already encountered.
Until now, he had regarded her concern as something precious. It was one of the many ways she expressed affection, sometimes through small, almost unconscious gestures and sometimes through the unwavering certainty with which she placed herself between him and anything that might threaten him.
He loved that about her.
But imagining those same instincts upon a battlefield left an uncomfortable tightness beneath his ribs.
"I would never want her to place herself in danger because of me," he murmured.
"Naturally."
Adrian regarded him sympathetically before continuing.
"And then there is the unfortunate matter of your engagement being so widely known."
Aurelian turned toward him. "What do you mean?"
"Only that an enemy need not defeat Her Grace directly if they discover another means of influencing her decisions."
For a moment, Aurelian merely stared at him.
Then the implication became clear.
An enemy might use him against her.
He felt an unpleasant chill creep along his spine, one that had nothing to do with the winter air seeping through the windows.
Adrian did not elaborate. He merely looked out over the frozen fountain, allowing Aurelian to consider the possibility himself.
Aurelian had worried about Seraphina's safety constantly since the threat of war became serious, but he had imagined that danger approaching her through the battlefield, never through himself.
"Of course," Adrian sighed softly, "Her Grace's precious fiancé must be kept safe."
He said it with a small, sympathetic smile. There was no mockery in his voice, which somehow made the description more uncomfortable.
Aurelian lowered his gaze.
Her Grace's precious fiancé.
He was a baron with responsibilities of his own, a man who had spent years preparing to manage his family's territory. He understood the importance of keeping people fed, maintaining trade relationships, and preparing for circumstances beyond anyone's control.
Yet the way Adrian spoke of him made all those things seem terribly distant.
Here, amid soldiers and commanders preparing for war, he was someone who required protection.
Someone precious enough to become a weakness.
Aurelian pressed his thumb against the side of his finger, trying to quiet the unease gathering in his chest.
Adrian seemed unaware of his discomfort.
"It is a difficult situation," he remarked. "Particularly when you have a territory of your own."
Aurelian looked up.
"Your family and tenants will have their own difficulties to manage should war disrupt trade. And unlike your position here, your authority in Bellafonte is unquestioned."
"Yes, but there is still work I hoped to accomplish in Vaelmont."
"Certainly. You have already contributed a great deal, and the arrangements you helped establish are well underway. The officials responsible for them are perfectly capable of continuing."
"I know they are," Aurelian replied, a little more firmly than he intended. "But I did not undertake those responsibilities simply to abandon them once they became inconvenient."
Adrian turned toward him.
Aurelian felt a brief flash of embarrassment at his own tone, but he continued.
"I have come to care for this territory. There are people here I have promised to help, and I would like to see those promises fulfilled."
For a moment, the marquis said nothing.
Then his expression softened.
"Of course you would, Aurelian. Forgive me if I gave you the impression that I considered your efforts insignificant. That was never my intention."
"Oh, no. I did not mean—"
"I know." Adrian offered him a reassuring smile. "Your dedication is one of the qualities I admire most about you. But surely you recognize that much of your work could continue through correspondence if necessary?"
Aurelian hesitated.
He could not entirely disagree.
The people working alongside him were capable, and much of what he had helped organize was intended to continue long after his own involvement ended.
Still, he had hoped to remain.
"I thought I might be able to continue helping Lady Sera," he admitted.
"And perhaps you can. But I wonder whether remaining here is truly the best way to do so."
Aurelian looked at him.
Adrian continued gently.
"You have responsibilities in Bellafonte that no one here can fulfill in your place. Meanwhile, Her Grace has people qualified to assist with the preparations in Vaelmont."
The marquis paused.
"If your presence here might endanger her, even indirectly, then perhaps the question is no longer whether you can be useful."
Aurelian waited.
"The question is whether she can afford to have you here."
The words struck him far more deeply than anything Adrian had said before.
For a moment, Aurelian could only stare at the pale reflection of his own face in the window.
He had come north wanting to understand Seraphina's world, to become someone capable of standing beside her rather than someone she must constantly accommodate. Even when war threatened to overturn their plans, he had believed there would still be a place for him.
He had not expected that loving her might require him to reconsider that belief.
"Do you think I should return to Bellafonte?" he asked at last.
Adrian regarded him thoughtfully.
"I believe that is a decision only you can make."
Aurelian lowered his eyes.
"Though there would certainly be no shame in it," the marquis continued. "Bellafonte needs its baron, and Her Grace may find it easier to concentrate upon the coming conflict knowing that you are somewhere safe."
Aurelian thought of the evenings Seraphina returned to her chambers long after midnight, of the meals she neglected and the exhaustion she attempted to conceal beneath her usual composure.
Had she been worrying about his safety as well?
The possibility made his chest ache.
"I don't want to become another burden to her," he murmured.
Adrian watched him for a moment before resting a hand upon his shoulder.
"My dear friend, I know how deeply you care for Her Grace. I would never question that."
His voice softened.
"But sometimes loving someone requires us to consider what they need, rather than what we wish to give them."
Aurelian swallowed.
The words were gentle.
He wished they had not hurt quite so much.
Adrian withdrew his hand and glanced toward the corridor.
"We should return. It is growing late."
"Yes. Of course."
They began walking back toward the main staircase.
Adrian resumed speaking of ordinary matters, mentioning a particularly tedious council meeting and an amusing disagreement between two members of the delegation. Aurelian listened politely, though he contributed little beyond the occasional distracted response.
By the time they reached the staircase, he could scarcely remember what they had discussed on the return journey.
"I am glad we finally had an opportunity to speak privately," Adrian remarked.
"As am I."
The marquis smiled warmly. "Do take care of yourself, Aurelian."
"Thank you, Adrian. Good night."
"Good night."
Adrian disappeared around the corner, leaving Aurelian alone beneath the glow of the corridor lamps.
For several moments, he stood without moving.
He had gone for a walk hoping to enjoy the company of a friend.
Now he found himself afraid of an answer to a question he had never thought to ask.
Would Seraphina be safer if he were somewhere else?
· · ─ ·☽𖤓☾· ─ · ·
Aurelian found Seraphina in the study adjoining the war room.
The door stood partially open, revealing a desk covered with maps and military dispatches. Several candles had burned low, and an untouched tray of food rested beside the fireplace.
Seraphina stood behind the desk, reviewing a document.
Her silver hair had been neatly gathered, though a few strands had escaped around her temples. The dark fabric of her uniform remained immaculate, but the exhaustion beneath her eyes was impossible to overlook.
Aurelian knocked softly.
"Lady Sera?"
She looked up, and her expression softened almost immediately.
"Lord Aurel. Come in."
Aurelian entered, closing the door behind him.
"I hope I am not interrupting."
"Not particularly. I was just finishing something."
She set down her pen. "Have you eaten?"
"Not yet."
"Neither have I."
Aurelian glanced toward the untouched tray. "I can see that."
Seraphina followed his gaze and sighed.
"I suppose you are going to insist."
"Someone must."
Her mouth curved into a faint smile.
She reached for a piece of bread, taking a bite before returning her attention to him.
"There. Satisfied?"
"For the moment."
"Good. Now, what brings you here?"
Aurelian hesitated.
He had spent the walk to her study considering how best to approach the subject. Part of him wanted to tell her everything Adrian had said, to ask whether the marquis's concerns held any truth.
Yet looking at her now, surrounded by unfinished work, he found himself reluctant to place another troubling matter before her.
Instead, he drew a quiet breath.
"I have been thinking about the preparations," he began.
Seraphina's expression grew attentive.
"What about them?"
"Well, I know how much responsibility has fallen upon you lately, and I wondered whether there might be something more I ought to be doing."
"More?"
"Yes."
Seraphina frowned slightly. "Lord Aurel, you have been working nearly every day since the preparations began."
"I know, but..."
He paused, searching for the right words.
"I want to be useful to you."
"You are."
The answer came without hesitation.
Aurelian felt a brief flicker of relief, and despite himself, he smiled.
"Thank you. But I was thinking that perhaps there might be something else I could do. Something that would truly make things easier for you."
Seraphina studied him.
"Such as?"
"I'm not entirely certain," he admitted. "That is why I wanted to ask."
She released a quiet sigh.
"You have already done more than enough."
Aurelian went still.
It was nearly the same thing Adrian had said earlier, though hearing it from Seraphina felt entirely different.
The marquis had spoken as though Aurelian's work was finished.
Seraphina sounded as though she was trying to relieve him of an obligation.
Neither interpretation brought him much comfort.
"I appreciate everything you have been doing," she continued, stepping around the desk, "but I have never expected you to involve yourself in the military preparations."
"I understand."
"Then why are you worrying about them?"
Aurelian lowered his gaze.
"Because I don't want to become another responsibility for you."
Seraphina blinked.
"Another responsibility?"
"With everything that has been happening, I worry that perhaps I am making things more difficult without realizing it."
Her expression softened.
"Aurel."
She reached out and placed a hand against his cheek.
"You are not making anything difficult."
He leaned instinctively into her touch.
Her palm was warm against his skin, and for one fleeting moment, he wanted nothing more than to forget the conversation in the gallery. He wanted to take her hand, draw her away from the desk, and spend an ordinary evening together as they had once imagined they would.
Instead, he remained where he was.
"I am sorry that I have had so little time for you lately," Seraphina continued. "I know this is hardly the visit either of us anticipated."
"Oh, please don't apologize."
"I had hoped we might enjoy more of the winter together."
"There will be other opportunities."
"Yes."
Her thumb brushed gently along his cheek.
Aurelian watched her expression, noticing how her gaze briefly strayed toward the documents waiting upon her desk.
He knew she was listening to him. He could see the concern in her eyes, feel it in the tenderness of her touch.
But he could also see that part of her attention remained with the responsibilities waiting just beyond this room.
He could hardly blame her.
"Lady Sera," he began carefully, "if there were something I could do to lessen your worries, would you tell me?"
"Of course."
"Even if it was something I might not particularly like?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"That depends upon what you have in mind."
Aurelian managed a faint smile, though it quickly faded.
"Suppose my remaining here was making things more complicated. Would you tell me?"
Seraphina's hand stilled against his cheek.
"Why would it?"
"I only wondered."
For a moment, she studied him with an expression he could not quite read.
"Has someone said something to you?"
The question startled him.
"No. Nothing in particular."
It was not entirely a lie. Adrian had never claimed Seraphina wanted him gone, nor had he suggested that Aurelian had done anything wrong.
He had merely presented possibilities.
Possibilities that were becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Seraphina sighed softly.
"Lord Aurel, you needn't worry about any of this. I have perfectly capable people assisting me, and the generals and I will handle the war preparations. There is no reason for you to involve yourself in matters that might place you in danger."
Aurelian felt something tighten painfully in his chest.
He knew what she meant.
She was trying to reassure him that he did not need to shoulder responsibilities beyond his experience, and ordinarily, he might have been grateful for that kindness.
But tonight, after everything Adrian had said, the reassurance felt strangely hollow.
"I wasn't suggesting that I take up a sword," he said quietly.
"I know."
"I only thought that perhaps—"
He stopped.
What had he thought?
That she might find some responsibility important enough to entrust to him? That she would tell him she wanted him here, even if he could do nothing more than offer his company?
The realization embarrassed him.
He had never needed a grand title or a position in her command. He simply wanted to know that his presence made her life a little easier.
Seraphina brushed a loose strand of golden hair away from his face.
"I would much rather know that you are safe."
Aurelian looked at her.
"Even if that meant I was somewhere else?"
She frowned faintly.
"What do you mean?"
"Somewhere away from the fighting," he clarified. "Would that ease your mind?"
"Of course."
Her answer came without hesitation.
"That is the last place I would ever wish to see you."
Aurelian lowered his gaze.
He understood that she spoke out of love. Indeed, there was something deeply tender about the certainty with which she wished to protect him.
But beneath that tenderness, he heard an answer to a question he had been too frightened to ask directly.
She would feel better knowing he was safe.
And perhaps the safest place for him was not here.
Some childish part of him had hoped she might say otherwise, that she wanted him beside her regardless of the circumstances. He felt ashamed of that desire almost as soon as he recognized it.
How could he ask her to disregard a danger simply because he wished to remain close?
"Lord Aurel?"
He looked up.
"Yes?"
"Are you all right?"
Aurelian managed a small smile.
"Of course."
Seraphina did not appear entirely convinced.
Her eyes moved over his face, searching for something he was trying very hard not to reveal.
For a moment, he thought she might press the matter.
Instead, a knock sounded at the door.
"Your Grace?"
Seraphina turned.
"Enter."
An officer stepped inside and bowed.
"Forgive the interruption. General Roderick requests your presence. The latest reports from the eastern watchposts have arrived."
Her expression sharpened.
"Any developments?"
"Additional movements near the border, Your Grace."
"Understood. Tell him I will be there shortly."
The officer bowed and withdrew.
Seraphina released a quiet breath, her shoulders stiffening almost imperceptibly as she turned back toward Aurelian.
"I am sorry, Lord Aurel. I had hoped we might have dinner together."
"Please don't worry about that."
Her expression softened.
"Try to get some rest. I will see you later."
"Of course, Lady Sera."
She squeezed his hand once before gathering the necessary documents.
Then she was gone.
Aurelian remained standing beside the desk.
The room seemed unusually quiet after her departure, though the sounds of distant footsteps and conversation continued beyond the door.
He looked toward the unfinished meal, then at the papers scattered across the desk.
Seraphina had not asked him to leave. She had listened to his concerns and attempted to reassure him, even when her own responsibilities demanded so much of her attention.
He knew that.
Yet he could not entirely dismiss the feeling that something between them had been left unfinished.
He had wanted to speak with her about the future, about the place he might occupy in her life as the conflict grew more dangerous.
Instead, they had spoken around it.
Aurelian reached toward the tray, considering whether he ought to have fresh food brought before she returned. Then he remembered that she might not return for several hours, and his hand fell back to his side.
There had been a time when he believed that loving someone meant finding ways to share whatever troubles came their way.
Now he was beginning to understand that some burdens could not be divided so easily.
And he was afraid that, despite his best intentions, he might be adding to hers.
· · ─ ·☽𖤓☾· ─ · ·
Joshua was tending the fireplace when Aurelian returned to his chambers.
The young attendant straightened at his arrival.
"Good evening, my lord."
"Good evening, Joshua."
"Shall I have dinner brought up?"
"Later, perhaps."
Aurelian removed his coat and settled into the armchair beside the window.
Outside, the snowfall had grown heavier, obscuring the distant lights beyond the castle walls. Snow gathered along the stone ledges and against the iron railings, slowly softening the sharp edges of the courtyard below.
For a while, he watched it in silence.
He remembered how happy he had been when he first arrived in Vaelmont. The unfamiliar cold, the mountain scenery, and even the castle's imposing architecture had seemed like parts of a new and wonderful chapter of his life.
He had imagined spending the coming months learning more about Seraphina's territory, finding his place among her people, and gradually discovering what their future together might look like.
He had imagined walking through the gardens with her, sharing meals, perhaps even convincing her to spend an afternoon doing absolutely nothing.
Such simple things seemed almost impossibly distant now.
"My lord?"
Aurelian turned.
Joshua had finished tending the fire and was regarding him with faint concern.
"Is something troubling you?"
Aurelian smiled slightly.
"I have simply had a rather thoughtful evening."
"Would you like some tea?"
"Yes, please."
Joshua poured a cup and brought it to him.
Aurelian accepted it with a quiet word of thanks, though he made no attempt to drink.
His thoughts returned to Seraphina.
He could still feel the warmth of her hand against his cheek, remember the concern in her eyes when she asked whether he was all right.
She had noticed something was wrong.
Had they not been interrupted, perhaps she would have insisted upon knowing what troubled him. Perhaps he might even have found the courage to explain.
Instead, he had smiled and allowed her to leave believing that he was merely tired.
Aurelian looked down at the tea cradled between his hands.
He did not want to leave Vaelmont.
The thought came with such painful clarity that his throat tightened.
He wanted to remain beside Seraphina, to be present when she returned from another exhausting day and to offer whatever comfort he could. He wanted to see the work he had begun brought to completion, to become better acquainted with the people who might one day consider him part of their household.
More than anything, he wanted the future they had begun imagining together.
But war had changed the circumstances.
And the possibility that remaining might place her in greater danger was not something he could dismiss merely because it made him unhappy.
"My lord?"
Joshua's voice drew him from his thoughts.
"Forgive me, but you seem rather unhappy."
Aurelian looked toward him.
The young man stood beside the fireplace, his expression carefully composed, though concern was evident in his eyes.
Aurelian attempted another smile.
"I'm afraid I am."
Joshua hesitated.
"Does this concern Her Grace?"
"Yes."
"Has something happened between you?"
"Oh, no. Nothing of the sort."
He looked toward the fire.
"Lady Sera has been very kind to me. She always is."
Joshua remained silent, waiting.
Aurelian ran his thumb along the porcelain rim of his cup.
"I suppose I have been thinking about what the coming months might require of us."
"Because of the war?"
"Yes."
Aurelian fell quiet.
He did not wish to burden Joshua with his fears, particularly when the young man had his own concerns about the growing unrest. Nor was he certain that he could explain what troubled him without making Seraphina sound unkind.
She had done nothing cruel.
That was perhaps what made the evening so difficult.
He could find no fault in wanting him safe, and nothing Adrian had said could be dismissed as entirely unreasonable. Yet somehow, between the two conversations, the future he had been looking forward to had begun to feel terribly uncertain.
Joshua glanced toward the untouched cup in Aurelian's hands.
"Would you prefer something to eat, my lord? You have hardly had supper."
Aurelian looked down, only then remembering that he had not eaten.
"Perhaps in a little while."
"Very well."
Joshua moved toward the door, presumably to give him some privacy.
"Joshua?"
The attendant stopped.
"Yes, my lord?"
Aurelian hesitated.
"Would you look into the current travel arrangements for the southern roads?"
Joshua blinked.
"The southern roads?"
"Yes. I believe there are still merchant convoys traveling toward the capital, though I am uncertain how frequently they depart now."
"May I ask why, my lord?"
Aurelian looked out over the snow-covered grounds.
For a moment, he imagined the familiar warmth of Bellafonte, the rustling sunflower fields and the sound of horses traveling along the red-dirt roads.
There would be work waiting for him there. His family would welcome his return, and he would have responsibilities that he understood without having to question whether he belonged among those carrying them out.
Yet the thought brought him little happiness.
Bellafonte was his home.
But somewhere along the way, he had begun hoping that Vaelmont might become another.
"I haven't made any arrangements," he said at last. "And I would certainly need to speak with Lady Sera before making any decisions."
"Of course, my lord."
Joshua paused, watching him with an expression Aurelian could not quite decipher.
"Shall I make inquiries tomorrow?"
"Yes, please. There is no need to trouble anyone tonight."
"Very well."
The attendant bowed slightly, though he made no move to leave.
Aurelian noticed his hesitation and offered a small, reassuring smile.
"I will be all right, Joshua."
The young man did not look entirely persuaded.
Nevertheless, he nodded.
"Then I shall see what I can learn."
"Thank you."
Once Joshua had withdrawn, Aurelian set his untouched tea upon the table and rose from his chair.
He approached the window.
Snow swept across the courtyard in thick, silent flurries. Somewhere beyond the residential wing, Seraphina was still attending to her responsibilities, surrounded by officers who understood the dangers she faced and possessed the experience to help her confront them.
He placed his fingertips against the cold glass.
It hurt to imagine leaving her here.
He had come so far, only to discover how little time they might have together before circumstances separated them again. He had spent months looking forward to being near her, and now he was considering putting an entire empire's worth of distance between them.
Aurelian bowed his head.
If he returned south, he could continue supporting Vaelmont through the connections he had established. He could fulfill his responsibilities to Bellafonte without requiring Seraphina to make additional arrangements for his protection.
It would not be the future he had hoped for.
But perhaps it was the future their circumstances demanded.
His reflection stared back at him from the darkened glass, pale and indistinct against the falling snow.
He wondered whether Seraphina would be relieved if he told her.
The thought caused an ache so sudden that he briefly closed his eyes.
He did not believe she wanted him gone. He knew she loved him, and he hoped she would miss him just as terribly as he would miss her.
Still, he could not forget how readily she had agreed that she would prefer him somewhere safe.
Perhaps he ought to listen.
Aurelian drew a slow breath, gathering what little resolve he possessed.
He would speak with her properly before making any arrangements. She deserved that much, and he could not bear the thought of allowing a decision so important to be made without her knowledge.
But as he looked out over the sleeping castle, he found himself returning to the same possibility, no matter how much he wished things were different.
Bellafonte would always have a place for him.
And perhaps, for now, the most loving thing he could offer Seraphina was the freedom to protect Vaelmont without having to protect him as well.
"I think," he whispered into the quiet room, "it may be time I returned to Bellafonte."
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